The IASB Office of General Counsel offers numerous guidance documents to help provide clarity and understanding for a number of complicated laws and legal issues that impact local school governance. From state laws, such as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA) to election and referendum questions, and federal education policy that includes the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and student privacy concerns, IASB and the Illinois Council of School Attorneys (ICSA) provide straightforward, easy-to-use resources to assist local school boards in understanding these issues.
These documents are intended for guidance purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice. Due to frequent changes to law, school boards are advised to consult with their legal counsel for legal advice.
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School Safety and Security (January 2024)
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Clearing Up the Confusion on Board Committees FAQ (August 2023)
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Responding to a Subpoena (Revised October 2021 by ICSA)
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Understanding Illinois Personnel Records Review Act (September 2021)
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Managing Challenging Public Comment Periods (July 2021)
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Answers to FAQs Regarding the Student Online Personal Protection Act and Public Schools (Revised July 2022 by ICSA)
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Conflict of Interest and Incompatible Offices FAQ (Revised June 2024 by ICSA)
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Gift Ban FAQ (Revised July 2018 by ICSA)
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Referendum FAQ (Revised August 2019 by ICSA)
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Vacancies on the Board of Education (Revised March 2020 by ICSA)
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Janus v. AFSCME: Implementation Issues for School Boards (June 2018 by ICSA)
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Special Education — Procedures and Sample Policies, and Sample Section 504 Procedures
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Answers to FAQs Regarding Students with Divorced or Divorcing Parents (February 2019 by ICSA)
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Service Animals Factsheet Q & A (January 2019)
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Guidelines for Interviews of Students (Revised March 2025 by ICSA)
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Memorandum of Understanding for School District & Local Law Enforcement Agency (March 2016)
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Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming Students: Legal Issues (December 2024)
FOIA and OMA
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Letting the Sunshine in: School Board Meetings and Records (Revised October 2024)
- Recent Court Decisions concerning FOIA or OMA
Federal Resources
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Q and A: Title IX Regulations on Sexual Harassment (January 2022)
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Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model (July 2018)
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Guidance for Schools and Districts About Ebola (December 2014)
- Employer-Provided Leave and the Americans with Disabilities Act (May 2016)